WESTON — The Vermont Country Store has promoted Chris Vickers to president and chief executive officer, the Orton family announced Wednesday

A veteran of the retail industry, Vickers joined the company in 2010 as chief merchandising and marketing officer. Previously, Vickers served as vice president of merchandising at L.L. Bean. He holds a masters in business administration from Harvard Business School and a bachelor's degree from Colby College.

“Chris has done an outstanding job bringing new expertise and focus to our business, particularly in Merchandising and Marketing,” said Eliot Orton, chairman of the board of The Vermont Country Store. “He is a natural leader and personally embodies the core values of practicality, frugality, family and community that permeate everything we stand for.”

Vickers said he was honored to be a part of the Orton family business, “with strong values, that creates a tremendous emotional connection with its customers.”

He said last year was one of the best years in the company's history with the company “well positioned for future growth.”

Founded in 1946, The Vermont Country Store is nationally known as The Purveyors of The Practical and Hard to Find, serving customers nationwide through its catalogs, online, and at two retail stores in Weston and Rockingham.